Cooling device capable of reducing thickness of electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

A fan housing of a fan unit includes a housing wall standing from the surface of a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board serves to establish the fan housing in cooperation with the housing wall. The fan housing further includes a ceiling wall connected to the housing wall. The ceiling wall extends along a datum plane parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board. A high speed airflow can be generated within the fan housing. The airflow promotes the heat radiation from the printed circuit board. An electrically conductive wiring pattern extending over the surface of the printed circuit board may further promote the heat radiation from the printed circuit board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printed circuit board unit with acooling device in general incorporated within an electronic apparatussuch as a portable digital assistant (PDA), a notebook personalcomputer, and the like. In particular, the invention relates to aprinted circuit board unit comprising a printed circuit board, aventilation fan rotatable around the rotation axis intersecting theprinted circuit board, and a fan housing accommodating the ventilationfan.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication P2000-77877A, aso-called fan unit includes a fan housing accommodating a ventilationfan rotating around the rotation axis. When the ventilation fan rotates,air is allowed to flow in the centrifugal direction of the rotationaxis. The fan housing serves to guide the air toward the outlet. The airis discharged out of the outlet. At the same time, air surrounding thefan housing is introduced into the fan housing through the inlet. Theinlet is defined to face the surface of the printed circuit board. Whenthe air is sucked into the fan housing, air is allowed to flow along thesurface of the printed circuit board.

In general, a number of electronic components are mounted on the surfaceof the printed circuit board. The respective electronic componentsprotrude from the surface of the printed circuit board, so that theelectronic components hinder a smooth flow of the air. The turbulence inthe air is supposed to constrain the ventilation fan from sucking theair into the fan housing. The suction quantity of the air may bereduced. The ventilation fan suffers from reduction in the coolingefficiency. As the printed circuit board gets thinner, the space isreduced between the fan housing and the surface of the printed circuitboard. The cooling efficiency of the ventilation fan may still getdeteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide aprinted circuit board unit with a cooling device contributing toreduction in the thickness of an electronic apparatus.

According to the present invention, there is provided a printed circuitboard unit with a cooling device, comprising: a printed circuit board; aventilation fan rotating around a rotation axis intersecting the printedcircuit board; a housing wall standing from a surface of the printedcircuit board at a periphery of the ventilation fan; and an outletdefined in the housing wall.

The printed circuit board and the housing wall cooperate to define aspace for accommodating the ventilation fan. When the ventilation fanrotates, the movement of air, namely, airflow can be generated withinthe space. The printed circuit board and the housing wall lead the airtoward the outlet. In this manner, the printed circuit board can beutilized to form the cooling device.

In particular, a high speed airflow can be generated within the space inthe printed circuit board unit and the housing wall. The airflowefficiently absorbs the heat from the surface of the printed circuitboard. The heat radiation from the printed circuit board can bepromoted. In general, an electrically conductive metallic wiring patternextends over the surface of the printed circuit board. The metallicwiring pattern usually has a superior heat conductivity as compared withthe material of the printed circuit board. The metallic wiring patternthus contributes to promotion of the heat radiation from the printedcircuit board. In particular, the metallic wiring pattern inside thehousing wall leads to an improved promotion of the heat radiation fromthe printed circuit board.

The printed circuit board unit of the aforementioned type may furthercomprise: a ceiling wall connected to an upper end of the housing walland extending along a datum plane parallel to the surface of the printedcircuit board; and an inlet defined in the ceiling wall.

In general, a number of electronic components are mounted on the surfaceof the printed circuit board. The electronic components protrude fromthe surface of the printed circuit board. The electronic components issupposed to hinder a smooth flow of the air along the surface of theprinted circuit board. If the inlet is defined at a position spaced fromthe surface of the printed circuit board in the aforementioned manner, asmooth flow of the air can be established irrespective of the existenceof the electronic components. The air can smoothly be sucked into theinlet. A large quantity of the air can be sucked, so that the coolingefficiency of the cooling device can be improved.

For example, if the printed circuit board of the aforementioned type isincorporated within an electronic apparatus, the inlet can be opposed tothe inner surface of the enclosure of the electronic apparatus. Airflowcan be generated along the inner surface of the enclosure in response tothe suction of the air into the inlet. In general, a generally flatsurface is defined on the inner surface of the enclosure. Less obstaclescan be found on the inner surface of the enclosure as compared with thesurface of the printed circuit board. A smooth airflow can thus begenerated along the inner surface of the enclosure. The air is smoothlysucked into the inlet. Since the air is smoothly introduced into theinlet in this manner, a higher cooling efficiency can be kept even whenthe space is reduced between the inlet and the inner surface of theenclosure in the electronic apparatus. The thickness of the electronicapparatus can reliably be reduced.

The printed circuit board unit of the aforementioned type may furthercomprise an inlet defined in the printed circuit board inside thehousing wall. Air can be introduced not only from the space adjacent thefront side of the printed circuit board but also from the space adjacentthe back side of the printed circuit board. A larger quantity of air canbe sucked into the space defined by the printed circuit board and thehousing wall, so that the cooling efficiency of the cooling device canfurther be improved. Moreover, the front and back sides of the printedcircuit board can simultaneously be cooled down enough. It should benoted that the inlet in the printed circuit board may be established inplace of the inlet in the ceiling wall. This structure contributes to afurther reduction in the thickness of the electronic apparatus.

In addition, the printed circuit board unit of the aforementioned typemay further comprise: an electronic component mounted on the printedcircuit board; and an electrically conductive wiring pattern extendingover the surface of the printed circuit board inside the housing walland connected to the electronic component. The ventilation fan serves topromote the heat radiation from the electrically conductive wiringpattern. The heat radiation from the printed circuit board can still beimproved. Moreover, since the electrically conductive wiring pattern isallowed to receive the heat from the electronic component, theelectronic component can efficiently be cooled down.

A heat radiation fin may be attached to the printed circuit board andconnected to the electronic component. The heat radiation fin promotesthe heat radiation from the electrically conductive wiring pattern. Theheat radiation fin may be located within the outlet. Alternatively, theheat radiation fin may be located to face the outlet.

An electronic component may be mounted on the printed circuit boardinside the housing wall. A high speed airflow can be generated insidethe housing wall based on the rotation of the ventilation fan in theaforementioned manner. Accordingly, the electronic component canefficiently be cooled down. The electronic component may be locatedwithin the outlet, for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description of thepreferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a notebookpersonal computer according to an example of an electronic apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating the inner structure ofa main body and the front surface of a printed circuit board unit;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating the backsurface of the printed circuit board unit;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a printed circuit board forschematically illustrating the main portion of a cooling deviceaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along the line 5-5 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 5,for schematically illustrating a modification of the cooling device;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view, corresponding to FIG. 4, forschematically illustrating the structure of a cooling device accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view, corresponding to FIG. 4, forschematically illustrating the structure of a cooling device accordingto a third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a notebook personal computer 11 as an example of anelectronic apparatus. The notebook personal computer 11 includes a thinmain body 12 and a display enclosure 13 coupled to the main body 12. Thedisplay enclosure 13 is allowed to swing relative to the main body 12.Input devices such as a keyboard 14 and a pointing device 15 areembedded in the surface of the main body 12. The user may utilize thekeyboard 14 and the pointing device 15 so as to manipulate the notebookpersonal computer 11.

A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel module 16 is incorporated withinthe display enclosure 13, for example. The screen of the LCD panelmodule 16 is positioned in a window 17 defined in the display enclosure13. The user is allowed to observe the operation of the notebookpersonal computer 11 based on texts and graphics, for example, displayedon the screen of the LCD display panel module 16. The display enclosure13 may be superposed over the upper surface of the main body 12 throughthe swinging movement.

As shown in FIG. 2, a printed circuit board unit 18 is incorporatedwithin the main body 12. The printed circuit board unit 18 includes aprinted circuit board 19 and a central processing unit (CPU) package 21mounted on the front surface of the printed circuit board 19, forexample. The CPU package 21 may include a small-sized ceramic substrate22 and a CPU chip 23 mounted on the ceramic substrate 22, for example.Not only the CPU package 21 but also various electronic components 24 a,24 b are mounted on the front surface of the printed circuit board 19.An electrically conductive wiring pattern, not shown, is formed toextend over the front surface of the printed circuit board, for example.The electrically conductive wiring pattern serves to establish electricconnections between the CPU package 21 and the electronic components 24a, 24 b as well as between the electronic components 24 a, 24 b.

Within the main body 12, a secondary battery 25 as well as a hard diskdrive (HDD) 26 is connected to the printed circuit board unit 18, forexample. The secondary battery 25 and the HDD 26 may be detachablyincorporated within the main body 12. The secondary battery 25 suppliesan electric power to the printed circuit board 18 in place of an ACpower supply, for example. The HDD 26 is allowed to hold applicationsoftware programs to be processed at the CPU chip 23 as well as variousdata utilized during the execution of the application software programs.

A cooling device 27 according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention is coupled to the CPU package 21. The cooling device 27includes a heat receiving plate 28, of a higher heat conductivematerial, superposed on the upper surface of the CPU chip 23. One end ofa heat conductive member such as a heat pipe 29 is connected to the heatreceiving plate 28. The other end of the heat pipe 29 is connected toheat radiation fins 31 attached to the printed circuit board 19. Heat ofthe CPU chip 23 is transmitted to the heat radiation fins 31 via theheat receiving plate 28 and the heat pipe 29. The heat radiation fins 31are allowed to protrude, out of a recess 32 defined in the printedcircuit board 19, into a space at the back of the printed circuit board19.

As shown in FIG. 3, electronic components such as a memory module 35including a random access memory (RAM), a PC card slot 36, a local areanetwork (LAN) module 37 are mounted on the back surface of the printedcircuit board 19. In this manner, relatively taller electroniccomponents are mounted on the back surface of the printed circuit board19 as compared with the front surface.

A fan unit 38 is further incorporated within the cooing device 27. Thefan unit 38 is attached to the back surface of the printed circuit board19, as shown in FIG. 3. The fan unit 38 includes a fan housing 39 fixedto the back surface of the printed circuit board 19. A top or ceilingwall 41 is defined in the fan housing 39. The ceiling wall 41 is allowedto extend along a datum plane parallel to the back surface of theprinted circuit board 19. An inlet 42 is defined in the ceiling wall 41.The inlet 42 serves to interconnect the space inside the fan housing 39and the space outside the fan housing 39 to each other.

Referring also to FIG. 4, a rotary member 43 is accommodated within thefan housing 39. The rotary member 43 is designed to rotate around therotation axis CR extending in a direction perpendicular to the backsurface of the printed circuit board 19. Blades 44 are integrally formedon the peripheral surface of the rotary member 43. The blades 44 may belocated at equal intervals, for example. The respective blades 44 aredesigned to extend in the centrifugal directions from the rotary member43. The individual blade 44 extends in a plane intersecting, by apredetermined inclination angle α, the vertical plane VP including therotation axis CR. When the rotary member 43 rotates, the blades 44 serveto generate airflow in the centrifugal direction from the rotation axisCR. The rotary member 43 and the blades 44 constitute a so-called fan orventilation fan.

As is apparent from FIG. 4, a housing wall 45 is defined in the fanhousing 39. The housing wall 45 is designed to stand upright from theback surface of the printed circuit board 19 at the periphery of theblades 44, so that the housing wall 45 mostly surrounds the ventilationfan. Specifically, the inner surface of the housing wall 45 is opposedto the outer ends of the blades 44 at positions spaced from the outerends of the blades 44. An outlet 46 is defined in the fan housing 39 atthe break of the housing wall 45. The outlet 46 is located to face theheat radiation fins 31. An inlet 47 is also defined in the printedcircuit board 19 inside the housing wall 45. The inlet 47 likewiseserves to interconnect the space inside the fan housing 39 and the spaceoutside the fan housing 39 to each other, in the same manner as theaforementioned inlet 42. Part of the printed circuit board 19constitutes the fan housing 39.

As is apparent from FIG. 5, the rotary member 43 is mounted on a rotaryshaft 51 extending in the vertical direction perpendicular to the backsurface of the printed circuit board 19. The rotary shaft 51 is receivedon a bearing 52 fixed to the ceiling wall 41 of the fan housing 39. Athin electric motor 53 is interposed between the rotary member 43 andthe bearing 52. The electric motor 53 may include permanent magnets 54attached to the rotary member 43, and stationary coils 55 fixed to thebearing 52 and opposed to the permanent magnets 54. A controller board56 is also fixed to the ceiling wall 41 of the fan housing 39. Acontroller circuit is established on the controller board 56. Thecontroller circuit operates to control the operation of the electricmotor 53.

Now, when an electric power is supplied to the electric motor 53, therotary member 43 rotates around the rotation axis CR. The blades 44generate airflow in the centrifugal direction of the rotation axis CR.The generated airflow is guided along the housing wall 45 to the outlet46. The air is discharged out of the outlet 46 in this manner.

An opening 58 is defined in an enclosure 57 of the main body 12. Theopening 58 is located to face the outlet 46 of the fan unit 38. The airdischarged out of the outlet 46 is allowed to flow through the heatradiation fins 31 and gets out of the main body 12 through the opening58. The air absorbs the heat from the heat radiation fins 31. In thismanner, the heat radiation from the heat radiation fins 31 isefficiently promoted.

A high speed airflow is generated based on the rotation of the blades 44within the inner space surrounded by the printed circuit board 19, thehousing wall 45 and the ceiling wall 41. The airflow efficiently absorbsthe heat from the surface of the printed circuit board 19. The heatradiation from the printed circuit board 19 can be promoted. In general,an electrically conductive metallic wiring pattern extends over thesurface of the printed circuit board 19. The metallic wiring patternusually has a superior heat conductivity as compared with the materialof the printed circuit board 19. The metallic wiring pattern thuscontributes to promotion of the heat radiation from the printed circuitboard 19. In particular, the metallic wiring pattern inside the housingwall 45 leads to an improved promotion of the heat radiation from theprinted circuit board 19.

While the air is discharged out of the outlet 46 in the aforementionedmanner, air is sucked into the fan housing 39 through the inlet 42.Since the inlet 42 in the ceiling wall 41 is opposed to the innersurface of the enclosure 57, airflow 61 can be generated along the innersurface of the enclosure 57 in response to the suction of the air intothe inlet 42. In general, a number of electronic components are mountedon the back surface of the printed circuit board 19. The electroniccomponents protrude from the back surface of the printed circuit board19. The electronic components thus hinder a smooth flow of the air alongthe back surface of the printed circuit board 19. On the other hand, agenerally flat surface is defined on the inner surface of the enclosure57 of the main body 12. Less obstacles can be found on the inner surfaceof the enclosure 57. The smooth airflow 61 can be generated along theinner surface of the enclosure 57 of the main body 12. The air issmoothly sucked into the inlet 42. A large quantity of the air can besucked into the fan housing 39, so that the cooling efficiency of thefan unit 38 can be improved. Since the air is smoothly introduced intothe inlet 42 in this manner, a higher cooling efficiency can be kepteven when the space is reduced between the ceiling wall 41 of the fanhousing 39 and the inner surface of the enclosure 57.

At the same time, air can be sucked from the inlet 47 in the printedcircuit board 19 in the fan unit 38. The air is introduced into the fanunit 38 not only from the space adjacent the back surface of the printedcircuit board 19 but also from the space adjacent the front surface ofthe printed circuit board 19. A still larger quantity of the air can besucked into the fan housing 39, so that the cooling efficiency of thefan unit 38 can further be improved. Moreover, the front surface of theprinted circuit board 19 can be cooled down enough even when the fanunit 19 is located on the back surface of the printed circuit board 19.

When the inlet 47 is defined in the printed circuit board 19 in theaforementioned manner, the ceiling wall 41 of the fan housing 39 maycompletely superposed over the inner surface of the enclosure 57, asshown in FIG. 6. Air can be sucked enough into the fan housing 39 fromthe inlet 47 irrespective of the closure of the inlet 42. A sufficientcooling efficiency can be maintained in the fan unit 38. This structureis supposed to contribute to an additional reduction in the thickness ofthe main body 12.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cooling device 62 according to a second embodimentof the present invention. The cooling device 62 includes an electricallyconductive wiring pattern 63 extending over the front surface of theprinted circuit board 19, and heat radiation fins 64 attached to thefront surface of the printed circuit board 19. The electricallyconductive wiring pattern 63 is connected to a power consumptioncircuit, namely, the CPU package 21 and to the heat radiation fins 64.Soldering may be employed to fix the heat radiation fins 64 to theelectrically conductive wiring pattern 63 on the printed circuit board19. The electrically conductive wiring pattern 63 may function asaground wire of the CPU package 21. It should be noted that likereference numerals are attached to the structure or componentsequivalent to those of the aforementioned first embodiment.

A fan unit 38 a is attached to the front surface of the printed circuitboard 19 in the cooling device 62. The fan unit 38 a may have thestructure identical to that of the fan unit 38 according to the firstembodiment. The heat radiation fins 64 may be located within the outlet46 of the fan unit 38 a, for example. In addition, the electricallyconductive wiring pattern 63 is allowed to extend from the CPU package21 to the heat radiation fins 64 inside the housing wall 45.

The cooling device 62 induces the heat radiation of a higher efficiencyfrom the printed circuit board 19 based on a high speed airflowgenerated within the fan housing 39 of the fan unit 38 a in the samemanner as described above. The electrically conductive wiring pattern 63promotes the heat radiation from the printed circuit board 19. Inaddition, since the electrically conductive wiring pattern 63 is allowedto efficiently receive the heat from the CPU package 21, the CPU package21 can efficiently be cooled down.

The air discharged from the outlet 46 is allowed to pass through theheat radiation fins 64. The air absorbs the heat from the heat radiationfins 64. The air thereafter gets out of the enclosure 57 of the mainbody 12 from the opening 58. The heat radiation from the heat radiationfins 64 can thus be promoted. Otherwise, any electrically wiring patternfor the ground of the electronic components 24 a, 24 b may likewise beconnected to the heat radiation fins 64.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cooling device according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention. The cooling device 66 likewise includes theaforementioned fan unit 38. Electronic components 67 are mounted on theback surface of the printed circuit board 19 inside the housing wall 45in the fan unit 38. The electronic components 67 may be located at theoutlet 46 of the fan unit 38, for example. The cooling device 66 of thistype serves to promote the heat radiation from the electronic components67 based on a high speed airflow generated within the fan housing 39 ofthe fan unit 38 in the same manner as described above. It should benoted that like reference numerals are attached to the structure orcomponents equivalent to those of the aforementioned first embodiment.

The printed circuit board unit 18 along with the cooling device 27, 62,66 may be incorporated not only in a portable electronic apparatus suchas the aforementioned notebook personal computer 11 and a personaldigital assistant (PDA) but also in a desktop type electronic apparatus.The bearing 52 for the rotary shaft 51 may be supported directly on theprinted circuit board 19 in the fan unit 38, 38 a.

1. A printed circuit board unit with a cooling device, comprising: aprinted circuit board; a ventilation fan rotating around a rotation axisintersecting the printed circuit board; a housing wall standing from asurface of the printed circuit board at a periphery of the ventilationfan; and an outlet defined in the housing wall.
 2. The printed circuitboard unit with the cooling device according to claim 1, furthercomprising an inlet defined in the printed circuit board inside thehousing wall.
 3. The printed circuit board unit with the cooling deviceaccording to claim 2, further comprising: an electronic componentmounted on the printed circuit board; and an electrically conductivewiring pattern extending over the surface of the printed circuit boardinside the housing wall and connected to the electronic component. 4.The printed circuit board unit with the cooling device according toclaim 3, further comprising a radiation fin connected to theelectrically conductive wiring pattern.
 5. The printed circuit boardunit with the cooling device according to claim 4, further comprising anelectronic component mounted on the printed circuit board inside thehousing wall.
 6. The printed circuit board unit with the cooling deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a ceiling wall connected to anupper end of the housing wall and extending along a datum plane parallelto the surface of the printed circuit board; and an inlet defined in theceiling wall.
 7. The printed circuit board unit with the cooling deviceaccording to claim 6, further comprising an inlet defined in the printedcircuit board inside the housing wall.
 8. The printed circuit board unitwith the cooling device according to claim 7, further comprising: anelectronic component mounted on the printed circuit board; and anelectrically conductive wiring pattern extending over the surface of theprinted circuit board inside the housing wall and connected to theelectronic component.
 9. The printed circuit board unit with the coolingdevice according to claim 8, further comprising a radiation finconnected to the electrically conductive wiring pattern.
 10. The printedcircuit board unit with the cooling device according to claim 9, furthercomprising an electronic component mounted on the printed circuit boardinside the housing wall.
 11. The printed circuit board unit with thecooling device according to claim 1, further comprising an electroniccomponent mounted on the printed circuit board inside the housing wall.12. An electronic apparatus comprising: a printed circuit board; anelectronic component mounted on the printed circuit board; a ventilationfan rotating around a rotation axis intersecting the printed circuitboard; a housing wall standing from a surface of the printed circuitboard at a periphery of the ventilation fan; and an outlet defined inthe housing wall.
 13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 12,further comprising an inlet defined in the printed circuit board insidethe housing wall.
 14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 12,further comprising: an electronic component mounted on the printedcircuit board; and an electrically conductive wiring pattern extendingover the surface of the printed circuit board inside the housing walland connected to the electronic component.
 15. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 14, further comprising a radiation fin connected tothe electrically conductive wiring pattern.
 16. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 12, further comprising an electronic componentmounted on the printed circuit board inside the housing wall.
 17. Theelectronic apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: aceiling wall connected to an upper end of the housing wall and extendingalong a datum plane parallel to the surface of the printed circuitboard; and an inlet defined in the ceiling wall.